On January 16th 1920 the United States of America went dry, the prohibition era of the 1920s had started. All breweries, distilleries, bars and saloons were forced to close their doors. The prohibition campaign was promoted by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-saloon league. Industrialists like Henry Ford were concerned about the impact that drinking would have on his labour force’s productivity.
But even before the 18th amendment to prohibit alcohol was ratified around 65% of the US had already banned alcohol. The prohibition advocates argued that by outlawing drinking it would help Americanize immigrants and eliminated corruption. The technical wording of the 18th Amendment actually banned the manufacture and sale but still allowed for the possessions, transportation and consumption of intoxicating liquors.
One year after the ratification of the 18th amendment the US Congress enacted the Volstead Act which defined “intoxicating beverages as anything more than 0.05% alcohol. The Volstead Act meant that beer, wine, whisky and gin were banned from being sold.
Each state did try and help out the federal government who only had 2,500 agents enforcing the prohibition laws. Indiana banned the sale of hip flasks & cocktail shakers and Vermont required drunks to identify the sources of their alcohol supply.
The prohibition laws typically failed because it proved to be unenforceable and smuggling and bootlegging were widespread. The prohibition years quickly gave rise to speakeasies, moonshine, bootleggers, bathtub gin and rum runner who would smuggle supplies of alcohol between states.
By 1927 there were an estimated 30,000 speakeasies which was actually twice the amount of legal bars before prohibition. It was easy to find a doctor to sign a prescription for medicinal alcohol which was sold at drug stores.
Many people made their beer and wine at home with places such as Cleveland having an estimated 10,000 stills.
During New York governor Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential campaign in 1932 he called for the prohibition’s repeal as a man who never hid his fondness for martinis.
On January 16th 1920 the United States of America went dry, the prohibition era of the 1920s had started. All breweries, distilleries, bars and saloons were forced to close their doors. The prohibition campaign was promoted by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-saloon league. Industrialists like Henry Ford were concerned about the impact that drinking would have on his labour force’s productivity.